Ironman triathlon registration suspended for 2013 event

Mike Roy/The Star-LedgerDespite a serious raw sewage spill into the Hudson River earlier in the week, more than 2,500 athletes from all over the world participated in the first-ever Ironman United States Championship Saturday. But organizers have suspended registration for the 2013 race.

After its inaugural run in New Jersey and New York Saturday, the Ironman may be looking a bit more like the Tin Man now that race organizers have suspended registration for next year’s race in New York, while they wait for feedback from local officials and examine costs.

“They opened registration the day after the race because that’s when the buzz is the highest,” said John Korff, president of Korff Enterprises, which organized the New York edition of the Ironman U.S. Championship race. “People were signing up at a regular pace. I believe we would have sold out in a week.”

When Korff was asked by the Ironman organization for feedback from local officials involved, he told them, “I don’t know.”

“So we did the prudent thing and put it on hold for a month until we could talk to everybody,” Korff said. “If the Fort Lee mayor or the Post Authority or local police weren’t happy, then what were we doing with all these registrations?”

Saturday’s race began on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River with a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride that ended in Fort Lee, and a 26.6-mile run that began at the George Washington Bridge and ended in Manhattan.

Organizers want to examine other factors, as well, including expenses.

Seven ferries were rented to shuttle the 2,500 competitors, a swimming platform was built on the Hudson and parts of the Palisades Parkway were closed down.

Korff said he didn’t have a final tally of the costs, but Ironman raised the entry fee from $895 to $1,200 next year before suspending registration. Most entry fees for Ironman challenges range between $500 and $700.

Jesse O’Donnell of Toms River, who ran in the N.Y. race — his first Ironman — said the higher price “isn’t that far out of line.”

Because he lives in New Jersey, “I didn’t have to ship my bike or buy airfare,” he said. Competitors who travel to a destination city such as New York can spend thousands of dollars. Equipment and training expenses during the year can run $10,000 to $15,000.

“I had a wonderful time,” O’Donnell said, “but it would have been better if the finish and the awards were in New Jersey. After the race, we had to go back to New Jersey to get our bikes.”

Pee Wee Bramblett, of Peach Tree, Ga., who has organized Ironman races elsewhere, was there as a spectator Saturday while his wife competed. He said they would not return if the race were held next year.

“Logistically, the race venue was very difficult. The finish was so far away from the (bike-to-running) transition. Those who did not have loved ones there spent an hour-and-a-half returning to pick up their bikes and stuff.”